Structure and method for flexible sensor array

ABSTRACT

A method of forming a sensor array. The method includes depositing a source/drain contact layer; depositing a semiconductor layer on the source/drain contact layer; and patterning the source/drain contact layer and the semiconductor layer substantially simultaneously, wherein the patterned semiconductor layer forms part of a sensor of the sensor array.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/963,008, filed on Dec. 21, 2007 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,824,949, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

GOVERNMENT FUNDING

This invention was made with Government support under contract No. 70NANB3H3029, awarded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The Government has certain rights in this invention.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to sensor arrays and, in particular, to flexible sensor arrays.

During the deposition of image sensors on amorphous silicon thin film transistor (TFT) backplanes, a metal layer known as the contact metal/mushroom metal is used to contact a positive (p doped)-intrinsic-negative (n doped) (PIN) sensor to a TFT. In the case of flexible sensor arrays, this layer can cause undesired effects due to film stress and creation of electrical faults by contact with other metal layers.

The contact metal/mushroom metal is part of the connection between the TFT and the sensor. A via through an encapsulation layer over the TFT can connect the contact metal/mushroom metal to a TFT contact. The contact metal/mushroom metal layer can be disposed over the TFT. The mushroom metal shadows the TFT active region from light to minimize leakage current. However, this adds an additional layer between the TFT and the PIN sensor.

In the formation of a sensory array, after a TFT is encapsulated, an opening is formed in the encapsulation layer exposing a contact of the TFT. The mushroom metal is deposited over the encapsulation layer and contacts the TFT contact through the via. The n, i, and p layers of the PIN sensor are deposited on the mushroom metal. Accordingly, the creation of the connection between the TFT and the PIN sensor requires deposition and/or patterning processes separate from the TFT fabrication process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a transistor and sensor in a sensor array according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 2-9 are cross-sectional views illustrating a process of forming a transistor and sensor in a sensor array according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a transistor and sensor in a sensor array according to another embodiment.

FIGS. 11-14 are cross-sectional views illustrating a process of forming a transistor and sensor in a sensor array according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Embodiments include a sensor array having the source/drain (s/d) layer in contact with the sensor media. Accordingly, the pixel contact metal or mushroom metal can be eliminated by adding an ohmic contact layer to the s/d metal. As a result, the number of layers is reduced, not only reducing the complexity of production, but also reduces the probability of defects, increasing yield.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a transistor and sensor in a sensor array according to an embodiment. The sensor array includes a substrate 14. The substrate can be glass, plastic, or any insulator coated rigid or flexible material. A gate contact 16 is formed on the substrate 14. A gate insulator 12 separates a semiconductor island 10 from the gate contact 16.

Two contact structures 19 and 25 are disposed on the semiconductor island 10. The first contact structure 19 includes contact layer 18, a conductive layer 20, and a doped semiconductor layer 22. The second contact structure 25 includes a contact layer 24, a conductive layer 26, and a first sensor semiconductor layer 28.

In an embodiment, the contact layers 18 and 24 can be n+ type semiconductor layers. Accordingly, the contact layers 18 can form ohmic contacts between the conductive layers 20 and 26 and the semiconductor island 10. An ohmic contact is a contact to a semiconductor that has substantially linear current-voltage characteristics. As a result, the conductive layers 20 and 26 can form source/drain contacts for the TFT.

An encapsulation layer 30 covers the contact structures 19 and 25, and the semiconductor island 10. An opening 33 in the encapsulation layer exposes the first sensor semiconductor layer 28. A second sensor semiconductor layer 32 is formed in the opening 33 and extends over the encapsulation layer 30. A third semiconductor layer 34 is formed on the second sensor semiconductor layer 32.

In an embodiment, the first sensor semiconductor layer 28 can be an n+ type semiconductor layer. The second sensor semiconductor layer 32 can be an intrinsic semiconductor layer. The third semiconductor layer 34 can be a p-type semiconductor layer. Accordingly, the first, second, and third semiconductor layers 28, 32, and 34 together form a PIN sensor. The n+ type semiconductor of the PIN sensor is directly connected to a conductive layer 26 forming a contact of a TFT. As a result, a mushroom metal layer is not needed to make the connection.

FIGS. 2-9 are cross-sectional views illustrating a process of forming a transistor and sensor in a sensor array according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates a substrate 14. In FIG. 3, a gate contact 16 is deposited on the substrate 14. A gate insulator 12 is deposited over the gate contact 16. A first semiconductor layer 36 is deposited over the gate insulator 12. The first semiconductor layer 36 can be formed from an intrinsic semiconductor.

As used in this disclosure, depositing, deposition, or the like, can refer to any technique of applying materials. For example, deposition can include chemical vapor deposition (CVD), electrochemical deposition (ECD), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), or the like. In another example, depositing can include depositing by printing. For example, ink-jet printing can be used for depositing. Moreover, deposition is not limited to depositing a uniform layer. In contrast, deposition can include the patterned application of materials such as pattern-wise printing of materials through ink jet printing.

In FIG. 4, a second semiconductor layer 38, a conductive layer 40, and a third semiconductor layer 42 are deposited on the first semiconductor layer 36. As the conductive layer 40 can be patterned into source/drain contacts for a TFT, the conductive layer 40 can be referred to as a source/drain contact layer. In an embodiment, the second and third semiconductor layers 38 and 42 can be formed from n+ type semiconductors. The second semiconductor layer 38 can be selected to provide an ohmic contact between the conductive layer 40 and the first semiconductor layer 36. The third semiconductor layer 42 can, but need not be the same material as the second semiconductor layer 38. For example, the third semiconductor layer 42 can be selected for a semiconductor in a PIN sensor, while the second semiconductor layer 38 can be selected to optimize the ohmic contact to conductive layer 40.

In an embodiment, a thickness of the third semiconductor layer 42 can be larger than a desired thickness of a corresponding portion of the first sensor semiconductor layer 28.

In FIG. 5, the second semiconductor layer 38, the conductive layer 40, and the third semiconductor layer 42 are patterned, forming contact structures 45 and 47. Accordingly, second semiconductor layer 38, conductive layer 40, and third semiconductor layer 42 are patterned into the contact layers 18 and 24, first and second conductive layers 20 and 26, and patterned third semiconductor layers 44 and 46. In an embodiment, due to the patterning of the conductive layer 40 and the third semiconductor layer 42, cross-sections of the conductive layer 26 and the patterned third semiconductor layer 46 can have substantially the same shape.

In FIG. 6, the first semiconductor layer 36 is patterned to form the semiconductor island 10. In this embodiment, the patterned third semiconductor layers 44 and 46 were not protected from the process used in patterning the first semiconductor layer 36. Accordingly, the patterned third semiconductor layers 44 and 46 can be etched and reduced in thickness.

As the thickness of the third semiconductor layer 42 was greater than the desired thickness of the first sensor semiconductor layer 28, when the first semiconductor layer 36 is patterned, the patterned third semiconductor layer 46 can be reduced in thickness to form the first sensor semiconductor layer 28. Similarly, the patterned third semiconductor layer 44 can be reduced in thickness to form the semiconductor layer 22.

In FIG. 7, the structure is encapsulated. Encapsulation layer 30 is deposited over the, first sensor semiconductor layer 28, the semiconductor layer 22, the semiconductor island 10, and the gate insulator 12. The encapsulation layer 30 and the dielectric can, but need not be formed from the same material.

In FIG. 8, an opening 48 is formed in the encapsulation layer 30. The opening 48 exposes the first sensor semiconductor layer 28. In FIG. 9, the second sensor semiconductor layer 32 is deposited over the encapsulation layer 30. The second sensor semiconductor layer 32 can extend into the opening 48. As a result, the second sensor semiconductor layer 32 can contact the first sensor semiconductor layer 28.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the third semiconductor layer 34 can be deposited on the second sensor semiconductor layer 32. As a result, a PIN sensor has been formed with the third semiconductor layer 34, the second sensor semiconductor layer 32, and the first sensor semiconductor layer 28.

Since the first sensor semiconductor layer 28 was in direct contact to the conductive contact 26, the PIN sensor is in direct contact to the conductive contact 26. A transparent top contact layer (not shown) can be deposited over the sensor array. As described above, there is not a mushroom metal layer between the TFT and the PIN sensor. Accordingly, fewer layers are deposited, not only reducing cost and complexity, but also increasing reliability.

Although a particular structure of for a TFT has been described above, other structures can be used, but still having a direct connection between a semiconductor layer of a sensor and a source/drain contact of the TFT. For example, the TFT could be formed with a top gate structure. The semiconductor layer of the sensor can be formed on a source/drain contact and exposed by a via to the other semiconductor layers of the sensor. Accordingly, even with alternative transistor structures, the mushroom metal layer need not be included and the associated process for forming the mushroom metal layer need not be performed.

In an embodiment, referring to FIG. 9, the mask used to pattern the via 48 can be used to pattern the deposition of the second semiconductor layer 32 and the third semiconductor layer 34. A transparent conductive layer can be deposited over the patterned p-type semiconductor 34. Accordingly, a bias can be provided to each PIN sensor. Furthermore, this transparent conductive layer can serve as a protective layer. In an embodiment, the first semiconductor layer 42 can be patterned into the first sensor semiconductor layer 28, while either none or both of the semiconductor layers 32 and 34 can be patterned.

In an embodiment, the encapsulation layer 30 can be increased in thickness due to a desired thickness of the first sensor semiconductor layer 28, described above. Although this increased thickness of the encapsulation layer 30 could result in cracking or other defects, the thickness of the first sensor semiconductor layer 28 and any other layers within an opening 33 in the encapsulation layer 30 can be adjusted to reduce the probability of defects.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a transistor and sensor in a sensor array according to another embodiment. The sensor array of FIG. 10 is similar to the sensor array of FIG. 1. However, the semiconductor layer 22 of FIG. 1 is not present. In contrast, the encapsulation layer 30 is formed directly on the conductive layer 20.

FIGS. 11-14 are cross-sectional views illustrating a process of forming a transistor and sensor in a sensor array according to another embodiment. FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 4 in that a second semiconductor layer 38 and a conductive layer 40 are deposited on the first semiconductor layer 36. However, the third semiconductor layer 50 can be deposited without the thickness described in FIG. 4. The third semiconductor layer 50 can have a thickness substantially equal to a desired thickness for the PIN sensor. Although this thickness has been described as less than the thickness described with reference to FIG. 4, the thickness can be as desired, including the thickness described with reference to FIG. 4.

Similar to FIG. 5, in FIG. 12, the second semiconductor layer 38, conductive layer 40, and third semiconductor layer 50 can be patterned to form contact structures 53 and 55. First sensor semiconductor layer 28 is disposed on conductive contact 26. Semiconductor layer 52 is disposed on conductive contact 20.

In FIG. 13, a protective layer 54 is applied to the first sensor semiconductor layer 28. However, it is not applied to the semiconductor 52. Note that the protective layer 54 can be part of or in addition to any mask or other protective layer used in the patterning the semiconductor layer 36.

In FIG. 14, the semiconductor layer 36 is patterned to form the semiconductor island 10. The protective layer 54 can be removed. Since it was not covered by a protective layer, the semiconductor layer 52 may be removed. However, since it was protected by the protective layer 54, the first sensor semiconductor layer 28 can remain. The resulting structure can be processed as described above beginning with FIG. 7. That is, the structure can be encapsulated with encapsulation layer 30, an opening 48 formed, and the like. Accordingly, a resulting structure as shown by the example in FIG. 10 can be formed.

The structures described above can be coupled to a storage capacitor to store any charge from the PIN sensor. Such a capacitor and other circuitry present in the sensory array can be included, but have been omitted for clarity.

In an embodiment, the intrinsic semiconductor layer of the PIN sensor can block light that would otherwise be incident on the semiconductor island. As the transmission through the intrinsic semiconductor layer can be greater than zero, some leakage current may be induced in the TFT. However, an intrinsic semiconductor layer about 1 um thick can absorb light energy that is greater than about 2.1 eV. Accordingly, the amount and/or energy of the light that is incident on the semiconductor island, and consequently any induced leakage current, can be minimized without the need of the mushroom metal layer.

In an embodiment, the sensor array can be used for x-ray imager applications. In such applications, photon energy can be generated from excited phosphors over the sensor area. The phosphors can block incident visible irradiation. Accordingly, such radiation is prevented from being incident on the semiconductor island.

Another embodiment includes an article of machine readable code embodied on a machine readable medium that when executed, causes the machine to perform any of the above described operations. As used here, a machine is any device that can execute code. Microprocessors, programmable logic devices, multiprocessor systems, digital signal processors, personal computers, or the like are all examples of such a machine.

Although examples have been given with reference to a pixel circuit, the above structures and techniques can be used in any thin film transistor circuit. For example, the above structures and techniques can be used for any p-i-n sensor thin film transistor backplane.

Although particular examples of deposition, patterning, and the like have been given, any combination of deposition techniques can be used. For example, some or all of the layers can be printed rather than or in combination with other deposition, masking, etching, or other techniques.

Although particular doping of semiconductor layers have been given, any combination of semiconductor and conductive layers can be used.

Although particular embodiments have been described, it will be appreciated that the principles of the invention are not limited to those embodiments. Variations and modifications may be made without departing from the principles of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A flexible sensor array, comprising: a flexible substrate; a gate contact disposed on the substrate; a gate insulator disposed on the gate contact; a semiconductor island disposed on the gate insulator; a first contact structure disposed on the semiconductor island, the first contact structure having a first contact layer disposed on the semiconductor island and a first conductive contact disposed on the contact layer; a second contact structure disposed on the semiconductor island, the second contact structure having a second contact layer disposed on the semiconductor island, a second conductive contact disposed on the second contact layer, and a first sensor semiconductor layer disposed on the second contact layer; an encapsulation layer covering and separating the first and second contact structures, and covering the semiconductor island; an opening in the encapsulation layer exposing the first sensor semiconductor layer of the second contact structure; a second sensor semiconductor layer formed in the opening and extending over the encapsulation layer; and a third sensor semiconductor layer formed on the second sensor semiconductor layer.
 2. The flexible sensor array of claim 1, wherein the first contact structure comprises a doped semiconductor layer disposed on the first conductive contact layer.
 3. The flexible sensor array of claim 1, wherein the first and second contact layers comprise n-type semiconductor material.
 4. The flexible sensor array of claim 1, wherein the first sensor semiconductor layer comprises an n-type semiconductor layer, the second sensor semiconductor layer comprises an intrinsic semiconductor layer, and the third sensor semiconductor layer comprises a p-type semiconductor layer, the first, second and third sensor layers forming a PIN sensor.
 5. The flexible sensor array of claim 1, wherein the second sensor semiconductor layer has a thickness of at least 1 micrometer. 